Ummaayad Mosque of Aleppo and Al-Madina Souk

If you are a history buff, you may want to visit one of the oldest cities in the world and tour their great Mosque and shop at the world's largest souk. Aleppo is one of the oldest and continuously inhabited cities in the world with a population of 4,393,000. The modern city sits on the same site as the ancient city (occupied since around 5000BC) and has barely been touched by archaeologists. In 1183, the fourth deadliest earthquake in recorded history rumbled through the city killing 230,000 people and then in 1516, it became part of the Ottoman Empire where it remained until the collapse of the Empire in 1923. Aleppo is a historically significant city because of its location at the end of the Silk Road – a network of trade routes connecting Asia with the Western world that got its name from the lucrative Chinese silk trade. However after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, trade was rerouted through the canal and the city began its decline .Almost ¾ of the population is made up of Sunni Muslims but the city also has the largest Christian community in the Middle East after Beirut, Lebanon. They also had a large Jewish population from the times of King David but the Aleppo Riots of 1947, forced most of the 10,000 Jews to migrate to Israel as part of the Jewish exodus from the Arab lands.

The Great Mosque or Ummaayad Mosque of Aleppo is the largest and oldest mosque in the city dating back to the 13th century, with the Seljuk minaret dating back to 1090. It is believed that the mosque is the burial place of Zechariah – the father of John the Baptist.Muslims regard Zechariah as one of the Prophets of Islam and put him in the same ranks as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, (who is considered by Muslims to be the final prophet sent by God).

Over the weekend of 13 October 2012, the mosque was seriously damaged during clashes between the armed groups of the Free Syrian Army and the Syrian Army forces. President Bashar al-Assad issued a presidential decree to form a committee to repair the mosque by the end of 2013.Al-Madina Souq (Wikipedia) is the covered souq-market located at the heart of the Syrian city of Aleppo within the walled ancient part of the city. With its long and narrow alleys, al-Madina Souq is the largest covered historic market in the world, with an approximate length of 13 kilometers. It is a major trade centre for imported luxury goods, such as raw silk from Iran, spices and dyes from India and many other products. Al-Madina Souq is also home to local products such as wool, agricultural products and soap. Most of the souqs date back to the 14th century and are named after various professions and crafts, hence the wool souq, the copper souq, and so on. Aside from trading, the souq accommodated the traders and their goods in khans (caravanserais) scattered within the souq. Other types of small market-places were called caeserias. Caeserias are smaller than khans in size and functioned as workshops for craftsmen. Most of the khans took their names after their function and location in the souq, and are characterized by beautiful façades and entrances with fortified wooden doors. Al-Madina Souq is part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.Many sections of the souq and other medieval buildings in the ancient city were destroyed and ruined or burnt as a result of a major attack launched by the opposition Free Syrian Army armed groups on 25 September 2012.

View of Great Mosque of Aleppo from the Citadel

View of Great Mosque of Aleppo from the Citadel

The Great Mosque or Ummaayad Mosque of Aleppo

Teresa the Traveler at The Great Mosque or Ummaayad Mosque of Aleppo

Fake gold jewlery on sale at Al-Madina Souq

Plenty of fresh juice is available at the Al-Madina Souq

One of the entrances to the Al-Madina Souq

Spices are on sale at the Al-Madina Souq

Some friendly carpet salesmen at the Al-Madina Souq

Bulk nuts on sale at the Al-Madina Souq

The crowded hallways of the Al-Madina Souq

Purfume bottles on sale at the Al-Madina Souq

For tips on visiting the Middle East CLICK HEREFor general travel tips on what to pack and how to plan ahead CLICK HEREFor tips on travelling on a budget CLICK HERE

Where I Stayed...Granada HotelAleppo, SyriaBaron Street Tel: 2114458Single rooms start at $20 USDThis hotel is on Baron Street close to the bus station. The rooms are nice and you have your own bathroom. The owner is very friendly and if you want heat in your room make sure to ask at the front desk and they will turn it on for you.

How to Get There - Aleppo has an international airport. Once in the city, most people take taxis as they are inexpensive.

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